Frequenting gun shops and shooting ranges, and devoting particular attention to those whose interest in weaponry extends beyond the casual, this book captures in detail how gun owners actually think ...
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Frequenting gun shops and shooting ranges, and devoting particular attention to those whose interest in weaponry extends beyond the casual, this book captures in detail how gun owners actually think and feel about their guns. Through conversations—with cowboy action shooters at a regional match, sport shooters, hunters, with shooters of all ages and races—we hear of the “savage beauty” of a beautifully crafted long gun, of the powerful historical import owners attach to their guns, of the sense of empowerment that comes with shooting skill, and the visceral thrill of discharging a dangerous weapon. Cutting through the clichés that link gun ownership with violent, criminal subcultures and portray shooters as “gun nuts” or potential terrorists, the book provides us with a lively and untainted portrait of American gun enthusiasts.Less

Shooters : Myths and Realities of America's Gun Cultures

Abigail A. Kohn

Published in print: 2004-06-24

Frequenting gun shops and shooting ranges, and devoting particular attention to those whose interest in weaponry extends beyond the casual, this book captures in detail how gun owners actually think and feel about their guns. Through conversations—with cowboy action shooters at a regional match, sport shooters, hunters, with shooters of all ages and races—we hear of the “savage beauty” of a beautifully crafted long gun, of the powerful historical import owners attach to their guns, of the sense of empowerment that comes with shooting skill, and the visceral thrill of discharging a dangerous weapon. Cutting through the clichés that link gun ownership with violent, criminal subcultures and portray shooters as “gun nuts” or potential terrorists, the book provides us with a lively and untainted portrait of American gun enthusiasts.

The years 1945-61 saw the greatest transformation in weaponry that has ever taken place, as atomic and thermonuclear bombs, intercontinental ballistic missiles and chemical and biological weapons ...
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The years 1945-61 saw the greatest transformation in weaponry that has ever taken place, as atomic and thermonuclear bombs, intercontinental ballistic missiles and chemical and biological weapons were developed by the superpowers. It was also a distinct era in Western intelligence collection. These were the years of the Germans. Mass interrogation in West Germany and spying in East Germany represented the most important source of intelligence on Soviet war-related science, weapons development and military capability until 1956 and a key one until 1961. This intelligence fuelled the arms race and influenced Western scientific research, weapons development, and intelligence collection. Using intelligence and policy documents held in British and US archives and records of the Ministry of State Security (MfS) of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), this book studies the scientific intelligence-gathering and subversive operations of the British, US, and West German intelligence services in the period to date. East Germany's scientific potential was contained by inducing leading scientists and engineers to defect to the West, and the book shows that the US government's policy of ‘containment’ was more aggressive than has hitherto been accepted. It also demonstrates that the Western secret services' espionage in the GDR was very successful, even though the MfS and KGB achieved triumphs against them. George Blake twice did appalling damage to MI6's spy networks. The book reveals the identity of the most distinguished scientist to spy for the CIA as yet uncovered.Less

Spying on Science : Western Intelligence in Divided Germany 1945-1961

Paul Maddrell

Published in print: 2006-02-16

The years 1945-61 saw the greatest transformation in weaponry that has ever taken place, as atomic and thermonuclear bombs, intercontinental ballistic missiles and chemical and biological weapons were developed by the superpowers. It was also a distinct era in Western intelligence collection. These were the years of the Germans. Mass interrogation in West Germany and spying in East Germany represented the most important source of intelligence on Soviet war-related science, weapons development and military capability until 1956 and a key one until 1961. This intelligence fuelled the arms race and influenced Western scientific research, weapons development, and intelligence collection. Using intelligence and policy documents held in British and US archives and records of the Ministry of State Security (MfS) of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), this book studies the scientific intelligence-gathering and subversive operations of the British, US, and West German intelligence services in the period to date. East Germany's scientific potential was contained by inducing leading scientists and engineers to defect to the West, and the book shows that the US government's policy of ‘containment’ was more aggressive than has hitherto been accepted. It also demonstrates that the Western secret services' espionage in the GDR was very successful, even though the MfS and KGB achieved triumphs against them. George Blake twice did appalling damage to MI6's spy networks. The book reveals the identity of the most distinguished scientist to spy for the CIA as yet uncovered.

The main focus of this book is to discuss the acquisition of intelligence on current and future Soviet weaponry by Western — chiefly British — intelligence agencies in Germany during the period ...
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The main focus of this book is to discuss the acquisition of intelligence on current and future Soviet weaponry by Western — chiefly British — intelligence agencies in Germany during the period between the end of the Second World War and the building of the Berlin Wall. It examines the collection of intelligence from all human sources: spies, defectors, refugees, released prisoners-of-war, contacts, and attachés. It evaluates the systematic efforts to diminish the scientific potential of East Germany by inducing the defection of scientific personnel to the West. The book also argues that the scientific units of the Western intelligence services played an important part in their governments' efforts to maintain their superiority over the Soviet Bloc in war-related science and technology — a strategy of scientific warfare. It shows that the Western secret services adopted a strategy of inducing defection both to obtain scientific intelligence and to hamper scientific development.Less

Introduction

Paul Maddrell

Published in print: 2006-02-16

The main focus of this book is to discuss the acquisition of intelligence on current and future Soviet weaponry by Western — chiefly British — intelligence agencies in Germany during the period between the end of the Second World War and the building of the Berlin Wall. It examines the collection of intelligence from all human sources: spies, defectors, refugees, released prisoners-of-war, contacts, and attachés. It evaluates the systematic efforts to diminish the scientific potential of East Germany by inducing the defection of scientific personnel to the West. The book also argues that the scientific units of the Western intelligence services played an important part in their governments' efforts to maintain their superiority over the Soviet Bloc in war-related science and technology — a strategy of scientific warfare. It shows that the Western secret services adopted a strategy of inducing defection both to obtain scientific intelligence and to hamper scientific development.

This chapter begins by discussing that although scientific intelligence operations against the Soviet Union were among the causes of the Cold War, a decade later, they were the ones who helped ...
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This chapter begins by discussing that although scientific intelligence operations against the Soviet Union were among the causes of the Cold War, a decade later, they were the ones who helped stabilize it. It then talks about the creation of ‘Dustbin’, with the aim of holding German scientists, technicians, and administrators to gather information about Germany's great advances in military technology. It explains that the information gathered was of importance for assessments of future military strength of the USSR. It examines compiled aerial photographs of the USSR. It discusses ways in which the countries sought to use German expertise to increase their scientific knowledge and military power. It investigates two particularly significant deportations of German scientists, engineers, and technicians. It explains that the West's strategic embargo was to enable the West to improve is weapons so that they can make use of the most advanced military and ‘dual-use’ technology.Less

The Soviet Exploitation of German Science and the Origins of Scientific Containment

Paul Maddrell

Published in print: 2006-02-16

This chapter begins by discussing that although scientific intelligence operations against the Soviet Union were among the causes of the Cold War, a decade later, they were the ones who helped stabilize it. It then talks about the creation of ‘Dustbin’, with the aim of holding German scientists, technicians, and administrators to gather information about Germany's great advances in military technology. It explains that the information gathered was of importance for assessments of future military strength of the USSR. It examines compiled aerial photographs of the USSR. It discusses ways in which the countries sought to use German expertise to increase their scientific knowledge and military power. It investigates two particularly significant deportations of German scientists, engineers, and technicians. It explains that the West's strategic embargo was to enable the West to improve is weapons so that they can make use of the most advanced military and ‘dual-use’ technology.

That fortresses were a basic ingredient of the medieval period, rather than an instrument of civil war waged by an anti-social minority, appears more fully by considering the medieval ‘arms ban’. ...
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That fortresses were a basic ingredient of the medieval period, rather than an instrument of civil war waged by an anti-social minority, appears more fully by considering the medieval ‘arms ban’. Militant architecture and weaponry of all kinds have much in common as icons of rank and power. But whereas fortifying itself was rarely an act of force and did not ordinarily endanger the peace or jeopardize the public interest, the unrestrained use of weapons might well do both. New castles were peacefully sanctioned by local seignorial authority, with or without royal involvement in France, most often with it in England but preventing the associated noble liberty of arms-bearing from wreaking the havoc occasionally caused by large-scale state-sponsored violence called for constant vigilance. For good and for ill, castles were an integral feature of the noble and larger society which produced them, participating as much in its economic and cultural life as, albeit marginally overall, in its military activities.Less

Noble Military ‘Liberties’, Ethos and Ethics

CHARLES L. H. COULSON

Published in print: 2003-02-20

That fortresses were a basic ingredient of the medieval period, rather than an instrument of civil war waged by an anti-social minority, appears more fully by considering the medieval ‘arms ban’. Militant architecture and weaponry of all kinds have much in common as icons of rank and power. But whereas fortifying itself was rarely an act of force and did not ordinarily endanger the peace or jeopardize the public interest, the unrestrained use of weapons might well do both. New castles were peacefully sanctioned by local seignorial authority, with or without royal involvement in France, most often with it in England but preventing the associated noble liberty of arms-bearing from wreaking the havoc occasionally caused by large-scale state-sponsored violence called for constant vigilance. For good and for ill, castles were an integral feature of the noble and larger society which produced them, participating as much in its economic and cultural life as, albeit marginally overall, in its military activities.

Winston Churchill's attitude towards science and technology may be vividly traced through his words and actions at those stages of his life where they claimed his attention. On surveying his record ...
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Winston Churchill's attitude towards science and technology may be vividly traced through his words and actions at those stages of his life where they claimed his attention. On surveying his record at Harrow and preparing for the entrance examination to Sandhurst in 1893, he reckoned that chemistry was one of his only two good subjects, the other being English. Churchill's appreciation of natural history survived through the intervening years, which took him as an army officer or war correspondent to India, Omdurman, Cuba, and South Africa, and as a politician to the Board of Trade, the Home Office, and the Admiralty. Churchill took a vigorous interest in the technology of warfare, even to the extent of contributing ideas of his own from time to time, such as the tank, the mulberry harbour, and the atomic bomb; he appreciated science especially for its applications to new weaponry. Churchill College, opened in 1964, is the firmest of testaments to Churchill's regard for science and technology and to his concern for their part in the future of mankind.Less

Churchill and Science

R. V. Jones

Published in print: 1996-02-29

Winston Churchill's attitude towards science and technology may be vividly traced through his words and actions at those stages of his life where they claimed his attention. On surveying his record at Harrow and preparing for the entrance examination to Sandhurst in 1893, he reckoned that chemistry was one of his only two good subjects, the other being English. Churchill's appreciation of natural history survived through the intervening years, which took him as an army officer or war correspondent to India, Omdurman, Cuba, and South Africa, and as a politician to the Board of Trade, the Home Office, and the Admiralty. Churchill took a vigorous interest in the technology of warfare, even to the extent of contributing ideas of his own from time to time, such as the tank, the mulberry harbour, and the atomic bomb; he appreciated science especially for its applications to new weaponry. Churchill College, opened in 1964, is the firmest of testaments to Churchill's regard for science and technology and to his concern for their part in the future of mankind.

This chapter focuses on the tactical aspects of logistic support as both the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy realigned their command structures and operating fleets to meet existing obligations and ...
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This chapter focuses on the tactical aspects of logistic support as both the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy realigned their command structures and operating fleets to meet existing obligations and anticipated worldwide threats. It explores why and how tactical doctrine for logistic support was refined to cope with the increasingly complex challenges caused by technological advances in carrier development, jet aircraft, and weaponry, all against the constant backdrop of heightened risk from potential enemy fast submarine or air attack. This line of inquiry includes postwar fleet exercises, war-gaming, and trials programs, which provided peaceful means to improve skills, understanding, and the actual equipment associated with replenishment at sea. It concludes by examining how the Korean War logistic experience affected doctrine and why it acted as a catalyst for introducing new technology and ships that would improve both navies' future capability in the art and science of replenishing ships at sea.Less

Fleet Mobility Tactical Development, 1945–1953

Peter V. Nash

Published in print: 2009-11-01

This chapter focuses on the tactical aspects of logistic support as both the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy realigned their command structures and operating fleets to meet existing obligations and anticipated worldwide threats. It explores why and how tactical doctrine for logistic support was refined to cope with the increasingly complex challenges caused by technological advances in carrier development, jet aircraft, and weaponry, all against the constant backdrop of heightened risk from potential enemy fast submarine or air attack. This line of inquiry includes postwar fleet exercises, war-gaming, and trials programs, which provided peaceful means to improve skills, understanding, and the actual equipment associated with replenishment at sea. It concludes by examining how the Korean War logistic experience affected doctrine and why it acted as a catalyst for introducing new technology and ships that would improve both navies' future capability in the art and science of replenishing ships at sea.

This chapter describes tools and weaponry used by the prehistoric hunter. The weaponry used for more than 11,000 years of hunting on the plains, in the Rocky Mountains and in parts of adjacent areas ...
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This chapter describes tools and weaponry used by the prehistoric hunter. The weaponry used for more than 11,000 years of hunting on the plains, in the Rocky Mountains and in parts of adjacent areas varies to some extent but still conforms to a single design and purpose: a stone, metal, bone or antler projectile with a sharp tip is propelled with enough force to penetrate and deliver a mortal wound. This chapter suggests that whatever the hunter's choice of weapon care and regular practice in its use are critically important determinants of hunting success because the delivery by the hunter of a projectile to produce a lethal wound is a final and crucial act in a hunting episode.Less

weaponry and Tools Used by the Hunter

George C. Frison

Published in print: 2004-08-11

This chapter describes tools and weaponry used by the prehistoric hunter. The weaponry used for more than 11,000 years of hunting on the plains, in the Rocky Mountains and in parts of adjacent areas varies to some extent but still conforms to a single design and purpose: a stone, metal, bone or antler projectile with a sharp tip is propelled with enough force to penetrate and deliver a mortal wound. This chapter suggests that whatever the hunter's choice of weapon care and regular practice in its use are critically important determinants of hunting success because the delivery by the hunter of a projectile to produce a lethal wound is a final and crucial act in a hunting episode.

The nature of police information, gathered in a context, means that innovations in technology do not have results consistent with an engineering-based information-driven conception of the impact of ...
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The nature of police information, gathered in a context, means that innovations in technology do not have results consistent with an engineering-based information-driven conception of the impact of information systems on organizational efficacy. The primary contingency of policing, the focus and theme of modern policing, patterns the work. A review of the types of technology that have been attractive to police suggests that mobility and weaponry still are considered the fundamentals and that training is least innovative. The transformative devices and new analytic devices have promise. A history of IT shows that a great critical mass of data or facts and some information are being gathered with no purpose, aim, or consequence. The core of policing, the patrol function, sets and determines how, why, and where what information is obtained, how it is processed, and what is and can be done with it. The introduction of new and more refined information systems is inconsistent with present practice. Future shifts toward prevention and software, mechanics, or equipment alone will not accomplish problem solving.Less

Horizons of Technology

Peter K. Manning

Published in print: 2003-07-15

The nature of police information, gathered in a context, means that innovations in technology do not have results consistent with an engineering-based information-driven conception of the impact of information systems on organizational efficacy. The primary contingency of policing, the focus and theme of modern policing, patterns the work. A review of the types of technology that have been attractive to police suggests that mobility and weaponry still are considered the fundamentals and that training is least innovative. The transformative devices and new analytic devices have promise. A history of IT shows that a great critical mass of data or facts and some information are being gathered with no purpose, aim, or consequence. The core of policing, the patrol function, sets and determines how, why, and where what information is obtained, how it is processed, and what is and can be done with it. The introduction of new and more refined information systems is inconsistent with present practice. Future shifts toward prevention and software, mechanics, or equipment alone will not accomplish problem solving.

This book presents detailed technical documentation of the authors' ten-year archaeological excavation of La Isabela, America's first colony. The artifacts and material remains of the town offer rich ...
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This book presents detailed technical documentation of the authors' ten-year archaeological excavation of La Isabela, America's first colony. The artifacts and material remains of the town offer rich material for comparative research into Euro-American cultural and material development during the crucial transition from the medieval era to the Renaissance. The period when La Isabela was in existence witnessed great innovation and change in many areas of technology. The archaeological evidence of La Isabela's architecture, weaponry, numismatics, pottery, and metallurgy can be precisely dated, helping to chart the sequence of this change and revealing much that is new about late medieval technology. The authors' archaeological research also provides a foundation for their insights into the reasons for the demise of La Isabela.Less

Archaeology at La Isabela : America's First European Town

Kathleen DeaganJose Maria Cruxent

Published in print: 2002-05-11

This book presents detailed technical documentation of the authors' ten-year archaeological excavation of La Isabela, America's first colony. The artifacts and material remains of the town offer rich material for comparative research into Euro-American cultural and material development during the crucial transition from the medieval era to the Renaissance. The period when La Isabela was in existence witnessed great innovation and change in many areas of technology. The archaeological evidence of La Isabela's architecture, weaponry, numismatics, pottery, and metallurgy can be precisely dated, helping to chart the sequence of this change and revealing much that is new about late medieval technology. The authors' archaeological research also provides a foundation for their insights into the reasons for the demise of La Isabela.